RUTGERS UNIVERSITY The State University of New Jersey IN MEMORY OF CHARLES MUNCH September 26, 1891 - November 6, 1968 ^Boston Symphony Orchestra Erich Leinsdorf Music Director THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY CHOIR F. Austin Walter, Director Erich Leinsdorf, Conducting Soloists: SHERRILL MILNES SARAMAE ENDICH Baritone Soprano Program Notes Copyright © by Alec Robertson The University Gymnasium Thursday Evening, November 21, 1968 8:30 o'clock I "Wedding" Cantata No. 202 for Soprano J. S. Bach (1685-1750) Aria: Weichet nur, betriibte Schatten Recitative: Die Welt wird wieder neu Aria: Phobus eilt mit schnellen Pferden Recitative: D'rum sucht auch Amor sein Vergnugen Aria: Wenn die Friihlings liifte streichen Recitative: Und dieses ist das Gliicke Aria: Sich iiben im Lieben Recitative: So sei das Band der keuschen Liebe Gavotte: Sehet in Zufriedenheit Saramae Endich, soprano Joseph Silverstein, violin Ralph Gomberg, oboe Charles Wilson, harpsichord continuo Jules Eskin, 'cello continuo Henry Portnoi, double bass continuo Sherman Walt, bassoon continuo Program Note: During his period of office as court composer at Cothen, where he had no duties to perform in the Duke's chapel, Bach is said to have composed a large number of secular cantatas, but only one of these, our cantata No. 202, is preserved complete, two more being known to us from subsequent adaptations in the church cantatas. We have, therefore, the Wedding cantata composed at Cothen in its original version. Bach was often unwilling to leave good material composed for a special occasion aside, but the dance-like character of the cantata would have prevented him from using the music subsequently in a church work. It should be said here, however, that Bach, in the manner of this time, did not recognize any sharply de- fined difference between sacred and secular music. It is possible, or even probable, that Bach's wife, Anna Magdalena, sang the solo soprano part in this Wedding cantata. We do not know what couple the libretto was written for or its author. The charming text indicates that they were young and its poetic conceits evidently appealed to Bach. The work is scored for oboe, bassoon, strings and harpsichord and, as "table music," it would have been per- formed during the Gargantuan feast, common at these ceremonies. — INTERMISSION — II Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 Brahms (1833-1897) Chorus: Selig sind, die da Leid tragen Chorus: Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras Baritone and chorus: Herr, lehre doch mich, dass ein Ende Chorus: Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen Soprano and chorus: Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit Baritone and chorus: Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt Chorus: Selig sind die Toten Saramae Endich, soprano Sherrill Milnes, baritone The Rutgers University Choir BOSTON SYMPHONY| ORCHESTRA ERICH LEIIySDORF, Mulic Director NOVEMBER 1968 JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 'Wedding' cantata no. 202 for soprano 'Wei diet nur, betrubte Schatten' (Vanish, gloomy shadows) ARIA Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten, Vanish, gloomy shadows; Frost und Winde, geht zur Ruh'! Frost and winds, be gone! Florens Lust will der Brust The pleasures of spring bring the heart Nichts als frohes Gluck verstatten, Nothing but happiness; Denn sie traget Blumen zu. For with it come the flowers. RECITATIVE Die Welt wird wieder neu, auf Bergen The world decks itself anew; on hills und in Griinden will sich die Anmuth and dales everywhere, charm and beauty doppelt Schon verbinden, der Tag is von strive to unite; the days are no longer der Kalte frei. cold. ARIA Phobus eilt mit schnellen Pferden, Phoebus hastens with his speedy Durch die neugeborne Welt, horses Ja, weil sie ihm wohl gefallt Through the newborn world. Will er selbst ein Buhler werden. Because the world pleases him so, He joins in the pleasures of love. RECITATIVE D'rum sucht auch Amor sein Vergnugen, Cupid too seeks his pleasure, when wenn Purpur in die Wiesen lacht, wenn the meadows are covered with laughing Florens Pracht sich herrlich macht, und purple, when the flowers bloom wenn in seinem Reich, den schonen magnificent. Like flowers, ardent hearts Blumen gleich, auch Herzen feurig are the conquerors in Cupid's kingdom. siegen. ARIA Wenn die Fruhlingslufte streichen When the spring breezes blow Und durch bunte Felder weh'n, And fan the colorful fields, Pflegt auch Amor auszuschleichen Then Cupid steals out Urn nach seinem Schmuck zu seh'n To display his magic charm, Welcher, glaubt man, dieser ist: The charm, so we believe, Dass ein Herz das andre kiisst. To make one lover kiss another. RECITATIVE Und dieses ist das Glucke: dass durch And this is happiness: that by a lucky ein hohes Gunstgeschicke zwei Seelen chance, two souls find Cupid's charm, einen Schmuck erlanget, an dem viel on which sparkle the jewels of Heil und Segen pranget. happiness and fortune. ARIA Sich iiben im lieben, in Scherzen sich To dally in love, to bind two hearts herzen together 1st besser als Florens vergangliche Lust Is better than the fleeting pleasure the Hier quellen die Wellen, hier lachen flowers bring. und wachen Here rise the springs, here the palm Die siegenden Palmen auf Lippen und branches Brust. Nod merrily and watch over united lips and breasts. RECITATIVE So sei das Band der keuschen Liebe, So, blessed pair, may the bonds of verlobte Zwei, vom Unbestand des purest love keep you free from the Wechsels frei. Kein jaher Fall, noch uncertainties of fate. May no ill wind Donnerknall erschrecke die verliebten nor thunderbolt disturb your tender Triebe! devotion. GAVOTTE Sehet in Zufriedenheit May fortune smile Tausend helle Wohlfahrtstage, And bring you everlasting happiness, Dass bald bei der Folgezeit And may your love blossom Eure Liebe Blumen trage. Through the passing years. Translation by Andrew Raeburn JOHANNES BRAHMS Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) op. 45 CHORUS 1 Selig sind, die da Leid tragen, Blessed are they that mourn; denn sie sollen getrostet werden. for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5 :4 I Die mit Tranen, saen They that sow in tears werden mit Freuden ernten. shall reap in joy. Sie gehen hin und weinen, He that goeth forth and weepeth, und tragen edlen Samen, bearing precious seed, und kommen mit Freuden shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, und bringen ihre Garben. bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 125:5- CHORUS Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras For all flesh is as grass, und alle Herrlichkeit des Menschen and all the glory of man wie des Grases Blumen. as the flower of grass. Das Gras ist verdorret The grass withereth und die Blume abgefallen. and the flower thereof falleth away. I Peter 1:24 So seid nun geduldig, lieben Briider, Be patient therefore, brethren, bis auf die Zukunft des Herrn. unto the coming of the Lord. Siehe ein Ackermann wartet Behold the husbandman waiteth auf die kdstliche Frucht der Erde for the precious fruit of the earth, und ist geduldig dariiber, and hath long patience for it, bis er empfahe until he receive den Morgenregen und Abendregen. the early and latter rain. James 5:7 CHARLES MUNCH September 26 1891 - November 6 1968 Charles Munch, Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orches- tra from 1949 to 1962, died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of November 6 1968 at Richmond, Virginia. He had conducted the Orchestre de Paris, of which he was conduc- tor and music director, in a con- cert at Raleigh, North Carolina, two days earlier. Born in Strasbourg, he came from a distinguished musical family. His father was his first violin teacher and with his three brothers and two sisters he spent much time during his childhood making music. He contemplated a medical career, and went at the age of twenty-one to study in Paris. But he was soon devoting his time to the violin. After service in the first world war, he resumed his career as a student of Carl Flesch in Berlin and as concertmaster of the Strasbourg Orchestra. He moved to Leipzig, where he spent eight years in the first desk of the violins in the Gewandhaus Orchestra under Wilhelm Furtwangler and Bruno Walter. In 1932 Charles Munch settled in Paris, and began his conducting career. He founded the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris and conducted the Lamoureux Concerts. Engagements as guest conductor in other cities soon followed. In 1937 he became conductor of the Paris Con- servatory Orchestra. His first visit to the United States was in 1946; he conducted the Boston Symphony on December 27 and in the fol- lowing month made the first of his many appearances with the New York Philharmonic. In the spring of 1948 Charles Munch was engaged to succeed Serge Koussevitzky as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, his tenure to begin with the 1949-50 season. Meanwhile, in the autumn of 1948, he toured throughout the United States with the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Franchise, of which he was conductor. : Ich will euch trosten, As one whom his mother comforteth, wie einen seine Mutter trostet. so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13 Sehet mich an: ich habe Behold with your eyes/ eine kleine Zeit Muhe und Arbeit how that I laboured but a little, gehabt und habe grossen Trost funden. and found for myself much rest. Ecclesiastes 51 :27 BARITONE AND CHORUS Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende For here have we no continuing city, Statt, sondern die zukunftige suchen wir. but we seek one to come. Hebrews 13:14 Siehe, ich sage euch ein Geheimnis. Behold, I shew you a mystery; Wir werden nicht alle entschlafen, we shall not all sleep, wir werden aber alle verwandelt but we shall all be changed, werden; und dasselbige plotzlich in einem in a moment, in the twinkling of an Augenblick eye, zu der Zeit der letzten Posaune.